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• Also present at the opening were IEG President Maurizio Ermeti, President of Emilia-Romagna´s Regional Legislative Assembly Emma Petitti, Mayor of Rimini Jamil Sadegholvaad, Italgrob President Antonio Portaccio, Assobirra President Alfredo Pratolongo, Unionbirrai President Vittorio Ferraris, FIC President Rocco Pozzulo and FIPE national vice president Aldo Maria Cursano

• Numerous new ideas. From elderflower drinks to aperitifs with native herbs. And green craft beer with olive oil or grape must


Rimini, 18th February 2024 . The best of the beer, soft drinks and mixology worlds as well as food proposals for new eating out experiences will be meeting, as of today, at Rimini Expo Centre.
Indeed, this morning saw the opening of Beer&Food Attraction . The Eating Out Experience Show, organised by IEG, Italian Exhibition Group, now at its 9th edition and ongoing at Rimini Expo Centre until Tuesday 20th in conjunction with the 6th edition of BBTech expo, the professional exhibition of technologies and raw materials for beer and beverages, and the 13th edition of Italgrob´s International Horeca Meeting.

The opening ceremony - introduced by greetings from IEG president Maurizio Ermeti - was attended by Alessandra Locatelli, Minister for Disabilities, who later met the participants in the ´Special Youth´ contest, a part of the FIC Italian Cuisine Championships; the president of Emilia-Romagna´s Regional Legislative Assembly Emma Petitti; Jamil Sadegholvaad, mayor of Rimini; Antonio Portaccio, president of Italgrob; Alfredo Pratolongo, president of Assobirra; Vittorio Ferraris, president of Unionbirrai; Rocco Pozzulo, president of FIC . Federation of Italian Chefs; and Aldo Maria Cursano, national vice-president of FIPE-Italian Federation of Public Establishments.

Introducing the event, Maurizio Ermeti, recalled that, less than a month since the success of Sigep, ´Beer&Food Attraction is the second event in the Food & Beverage sector to be staged in Rimini since the beginning of the year. Two events that have also grown thanks to an area that has always had a vocation for hospitality and an abundance of public establishments, especially bars, pubs and restaurants, which have made history in the horeca world. Two extraordinary events that we have considerably boosted in recent months, promoting their growth and strengthening their positioning in the Food & Beverage sector. Now they are both veritable hubs where new ideas, scenarios and opportunities in out-of-home foodservice, one of our country´s most representative sectors, emerge.´
Alessandra Locatelli, Minister for Disabilities: ´I would like to thank Italian Exhibition Group for this wonderful opportunity. The Italian Cuisine Championships, and particularly the Special Youth Contest, are a very important participation and sharing moment that goes exactly in the direction that we are all called upon to promote together today, starting from the awareness that each person has talents and skills to be enhanced and put at the service of our communities. Thanks to all those who cultivate projects such as this and make them grow with love and passion, and by always focusing on the person with his or her potential.´

Emma Petitti, president of Emilia-Romagna´s Regional Legislative Assembly: ´Beer&Food Attraction is one of the most important events on Rimini´s winter trade show calendar, a reference event for the beverage and foodservice sector. Food is a sector that the Emilia-Romagna Region believes in immensely and in which it invests. We have, for example, activated the FoodER project, the first international agri-food university, a national hub of teaching and skills in a sector where our region is the world´s quality winner, to attract young people here to help us in the sustainability, corporate competitiveness and good work challenge.´

Jamil Sadegholvaad, mayor of Rimini: ´Food and beverages are the new global frontier of what used to be called ´free time´, an expression that has changed shape and substance and that could now be translated as the way to homogenise aspirations and relationships between people. Rimini is the city that translates this philosophy into its urban spaces and social life. And it is precisely due to the offer of the best products that the land can provide that Rimini has become a fundamental part of being the capital of dolce vita beach holidays. Beer&Food attraction is both tradition and innovation in the sphere of trade show events that contribute to making Rimini a key player in hospitality even in the months outside the holiday season. The strength of everything, however, lies in the city/event combination: there is nothing artificial or forced. Everything here is real.´

Antonio Portaccio, president of Italgrob: ´Italian Exhibition Group and Italgrob´s relationship has long been a consolidated fact. I would like to invite you to the International Horeca Meeting, where the entire Beverage supply chain plays a leading role in getting distributors and consumption venues to meet, favouring the creation of new business opportunities and where many current issues affecting the Horeca industry will be addressed. In particular, we also need to identify all the economic opportunities in the world of out-of-home to face the situation regarding Italian families´ reduced spending power. It is a difficult game and it will be a team effort to be put onto the field with all the category associations.´

Alfredo Pratolongo, president of AssoBirra: ´We are pleased to be here once again alongside Beer&Food Attraction, Italian Exhibition Group´s exhibition dedicated to beers, beverages, food and trends for eating out. This event, now at its 9th edition, continues to be of crucial importance for Italy´s food & beverage scene. The renewed presence and patronage of AssoBirra testify to the ongoing commitment to excellence in the beer sector. Beer&Food Attraction is an exemplary platform that celebrates the diversity of beers, haute cuisine and new trends in the food and beverage sector. I am confident that this edition will contribute to new networking opportunities and moments for sharing.´

Vittorio Ferraris, president of Unionbirrai: ´Beer&Food Attraction re-starts with the enormous satisfaction of Unionbirrai, the association for small and independent Italian breweries. This year we are extremely proud of the high participation of our operators at the show and the huge success of the brewery entries for the Beer of the Year Award, which is Unionbirrai´s pride and joy at an event that perfectly represents the Italian craft beer scene.´

Rocco Pozzulo, president of Federation of Italian Chefs - FIC: ´The 8th edition of the Italian Cuisine Championships at Beer&Food Attraction is the result of the tried and tested marriage between Federcuochi and IEG in Rimini, which has given our country the sector´s most important cuisine competition as well as one of the best at a European level. The event is now an eagerly-awaited showcase under the spotlights of the entire Ho.Re.Ca sector with more than 500 competitors in every competition category and 2000 trade operators.´


Aldo Maria Cursano, national vice president of FIPE: ´We live in an era in which consumption styles have changed and ´eating out´ is confirmed as the favourite way for Italians to enjoy a good meal accompanied by quality drinks. Indeed, this market segment grew significantly immediately after the pandemic crisis, recording an increase of over 26% in 2023 compared to the previous year. That is why, on behalf of the Federation, I would like to thank the organisers of Beer&Food Attraction for inviting us to this important event and for wanting to host here the point of view of the Public Establishment sector, a true symbol of conviviality and being together.´

FOOD&BEVERAGE NEW IDEAS
Numerous new ideas are on offer at the show for operators in the food & beverage world. From elderflower drinks to aperitifs based on indigenous herbs; from non-alcoholic drinks to those without sugar; from gourmet proposals of combinations between pizza and beer, to those with gin. And new entries among craft beers include a green beer with olive oil or one with added grape must. And shell-shaped sandwiches and fish finger food are certainly not lacking.

600 EXHIBITORS AT THE SHOW
More than 600 exhibiting brands are taking part in the Rimini event (from 16 countries, mainly - after Italy - Germany, Belgium, Spain and the UK) arranged in 14 halls. An edition that is becoming increasingly international, thanks to the partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, ITA . Italian Trade Agency, and Italian Exhibition Group´s network of regional advisors, which is also reflected in the numbers: in fact, 125 foreign buyers from 40 countries are attending Rimini. Among the most represented are Canada, Spain, Estonia, Denmark and Sweden.

ABOUT BEER&FOOD ATTRACTION 2024
Dates: 18 . 20 February 2024; Organiser: Italian Exhibition Group SpA; edition: 9th; frequency: annual; info: https://www.beerandfoodattraction.it/

ABOUT BBTECH EXPO 2024
Dates: 18 . 20 February 2024; Organiser: Italian Exhibition Group SpA; edition: 6th; frequency: annual; info: https://www.bbtechexpo.com/


PRESS CONTACT ITALIAN EXHIBITION GROUP
Head of media relation & corporate communication: Elisabetta Vitali; press office manager: Marco Forcellini;
international press office coordinator: Silvia Giorgi; media@iegexpo.it

MEDIA AGENCY BEER&FOOD ATTRACTION-BBTECH EXPO: Mind The Pop - Martina Vacca: martina@mindthepop.it, mob. +39 339 748 4994; Fabrizio Raimondi: fabrizio@mindthepop.it, mob. +39 335 389 848; Stefano Chiossi: stefano@mindthepop.it, mob. + 39 388 739 4358.

This press release contains forecast elements and estimates that reflect the management´s current opinions (´forward-looking statements´), particularly regarding future management performance, realization of investments, cash flow trends and the evolution of the financial structure. For their very nature, forward-looking statements have a component of risk and uncertainty, as they depend on the occurrence of future events. The effective results may differ (even significantly) from those announced, due to numerous factors, including, only by way of example: food service market and tourist flow trends in Italy, gold and jewellery market trends, green economy market trends; the evolution of raw material prices; general macroeconomic conditions; geopolitical factors and evolutions in the legislative framework. Moreover, the information contained in this release does not claim to be complete, and has not been verified by independent third parties. Forecasts, estimates and objectives contained herein are based on the information available to the Company as at the date of this release.